5 Travel Must-Dos for a Summer Family Vacation

Traveling with the family can afford some of the most memorable vacations for years to come. With proper planning and research, you can ensure that your family vacation pleases even the pickiest member of the family. But with so many choices available, how does one choose the perfect destination? Budget, location, activities, and amenities are all factors that help determine a location the whole family will enjoy. The following five travel tips will get even the most inexperienced travelers on the road to their ideal summer vacation. 5 Travel Must-Dos for a Summer Family Vacation.

1. Plan Ahead

Accommodations can be sold out or unavailable by early summer. Most of Americans who are planning to travel this summer had already arranged to lodge at their destination. The rest were either exploring their options for where to stay or had not yet selected the specific destination for their trip. The age of the internet makes research and booking easy and fairly painless. Chamber of Commerce websites make finding destination activities and outings simple. Getting the whole family excited about your trip can be as easy as spending 20 minutes on the computer looking at websites that bring the destination right into your home.

2. Select Appropriate Lodging

A family of 5 can spend less on one Breckenridge condo than on two adjoining rooms at some nearby hotels, with more family-friendly space and a kitchen that alleviates the need to dine out for every meal. The amount you save on lodging will make a difference in what area attractions and activities you can visit! If you’re slow to get moving in the morning, you can have a leisurely breakfast in your condo. You’re on vacation and it’s not necessary to be on the go all day long.

3. Look Beyond The “Usual Suspects”

Destinations, where summer may be the off-season, can offer lots of family fun and unique summer vacation experiences. Ski resorts offer fabulous lodging deals and a lot of family activities to draw summer travelers. Top destination resorts such as Vail Colorado or Park City Utah offer great packages and bargain rates in the summer.

Be as specific as possible. Searching on the Internet for specific requirements that you have will provide much more fruitful and productive results. The more specific the search, the more targeted the results. For instance, a search for “Lake Tahoe Family Vacation” will provide much more relevant results than a search for California vacation. If you’re not finding what you’re looking for, don’t be afraid to look to the big sites. One way to help ensure a great vacation is to read destination and rental reviews at one of the review sites such as Tripadvisor or Openlist.

4. Don’t Succumb To Teen Angst

Nothing can ruin an outing of family togetherness quicker than a teen determined to whine and mope throughout the trip. Engaging in a new activity or destination can morph a perpetually bored teen to an active and willing participant. Charter a yacht in the San Juan Islands to give them an up-close view of whales and sea lions or plan a Central Oregon adventure trip alive with rafting, mountain biking, canoeing and horseback riding.

All in all, a memorable family trip is contingent on planning and the willingness to try new things. Apply these tips and a successful summer family vacation lies just around the bend.